Announcements from the director
August 9, 2012
One year ago, CIEP received notice from the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA) that it was granted accreditation for 5 years. In addition, we received a "to do" list in order to finalize and keep our accreditation status. The list included 3 reporting requirements and 1 recommendation. This required our staff to put together two documents: 1) a response to the findings of the CEA site visit report (sent immediate after receiving the decision), and 2) a formal plan with supporting documents addressing how we were meeting the reporting requirements and recommendation (sent in May 2012). Today, I am pleased to inform you that we received word (see attached letter) that all requirements for full accreditation have been met and CIEP is fully established as a CEA accredited program for the remainder of the accreditation cycle.
June 1, 2011
The University of Northern Iowa (UNI) is coming to the end of its academic year, and before everyone departs for the break, I would like to note CIEP’s accomplishments and give thanks to our teachers and staff. First, the CIEP was able to accomplish the hard work of completing a CEA (Commission on English Language Program Accreditation) accreditation application. This is no small feat as it involved the creation of a lengthy self-study report and changes to processes, policies, and procedures in CIEP so as to meet the standards set by CEA. In addition, the CEA recieved a visit from a group of three reviewers in February to interview students, faculty, staff, administrators, and examine our offices, files, classrooms, etc. In August, the CEA Board will meet in Washington, D.C. to make its final decision. Thanks to all the CIEP employees who worked hard to make this process happen including Tom Riedmiller and Petra Maier, who co-wrote and edited the final version of the self-study report. Thanks, too, to all the UNI faculty, administration, staff, and students who helped with interviews and information gathering.
In addition to the CEA accredition work, the CIEP added new staff and offices. Staff additions included a new activities coordinator and secretary. Morever, CIEP acquired new offices adjacent to its main suite of offices in Baker Hall. Through the work of Dr. Kurt Meredith, Assistant Provost for International Programs (CIEP’s administrative parent) and Dr. Virginia Arthur, Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs, the CIEP was able to move into a suite of offices that included 4 staff offices, a library, a conference room, and common work area.
Finally, the CIEP has continued to improve its quality and standards through the hard work of teachers and administrative staff. Some met regularly on committees and in staff meetings, others did research, and all attended professional development opportunities. For some these professional development opportunities involved attending international and local conferences, for others it involved attending webinars and workshops sponsored by CIEP or UNI, and for all it involved learning and expanding their thinking in new ways. I am grateful to all the CIEP employees who improved the quality of the program this past year, and thus, improving services to our students.
